Toronto Maple Leafs record is just OK, but they're heading for success

The Toronto Maple Leafs have had a hard time winning games lately, but they're headed in the right direction.

If you're reading this, you're more than likely a die-hard Toronto Maple Leafs fan and have seen everything. From Game 7 losses, uncalled high-sticks and one Zamboni driver, the unexpected is the expected.

We're essentially the NHL's version of the NY Jets and unfortunately for me, I cheer for both team's. I'd love to spend the next 5,000 words yelling and screaming about that joke of a franchise but I'll leave that up to my good friends at The Jet Press.

I know it's only October but a losing streak is always cause for concern, even if it's only a few games. Yes, the Leafs held on and beat the Winnipeg Jets on Monday, but before that they'd lost three in a row and four of five. This losing streak seems different and the main reason is the head coach.

In previous years, although they didn't lose a ton in the regular season, Sheldon Keefe was always hesitant for change. Even in the playoffs, he allways seemed to play the "core-four" together regardless of the outcome. However, Craig Berube doesn't work that way.

Berube doesn't care if you make $11M or $1M AAV. Instead, he only cares about finding the right combination. That logic has been shown immediately through his goaltenders. Joseph Woll was given an opportunity to return and start against the St. Louis Blues, who Berube previously coached, and it didn't work out well.

Toronto Maple Leafs record is just OK, but they're heading for success

That game meant the world to Berube, so the fact that the Leafs didn't show up for it probably hurt him a lot. Since that loss, the team is looking a little different.

The first power-play unit, for the first time since I can remember, doesn't feature John Tavares, Mitch Marner, John Tavares and William Nylander, but instead is split up. Marner and Matthews highlight the first unit, while Tavares and Nylander are on the second, which is something I love.

I've been yelling and screaming for years to split the core up, and finally Berube has done it. He did it to begin the season with Tavares moving to 3C, but doing it on the power-play is something that has needed to happen for a long time.

This power-play has been so boring and inconsistent, mostly in the playoffs, but as we all know, Berube is getting this team to play playoff hockey now.

They may have a worse regular season record because of it, but when the playoffs start, they're going to be ready for it. It's a long season and you need to try out every combination you can before the games mean too much.

You don't want to see drastic line changes during Game 4, 5, 6 or 7, but instead want something you can trust from Game 1 of the First Round, all the way to Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals.

The losing sucks, but Berube is setting this team up for success. It may be one step backward right now, but trust, it'll be two steps forward before we know it.